President expected in Moscow for grand Russia event

Kuda Bwititi in Moscow, Russia

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa is set to arrive in Moscow today to attend the annual Victory Day celebrations, a major Russian holiday commemorating the country’s victory in World War II.

During the visit, President Mnangagwa is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The President will also hold side-line meetings with other leaders and dignitaries.

The Victory Day event, marked by grand military parades and cultural displays, will see the participation of numerous world leaders, while also reinforcing diplomatic ties between Russia and Zimbabwe.

This year’s celebrations are expected to draw over 20 Heads of State and government officials from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and former Soviet states. Key attendees include China’s President Xi Jinping, who has confirmed that he will attend the grand occasion.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (Egypt) are also expected to attend.

Other leaders who have confirmed their attendance include Heads of State from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Cuba, and several African nations, highlighting Russia’s continued global influence and geopolitical alliances.

Some senior Government officials from various ministries are already in Russia ahead of President Mnangagwa’s arrival.

Victoria Day, celebrated on May 9 in Russia, honours the Soviet Union’s triumph over Nazi Germany in 1945. The day is marked by the iconic Victory Parade in Moscow’s Red Square, featuring military processions, historic re-enactments, and the keynote address by President Putin. The event holds deep historical and patriotic significance, symbolising resilience and national pride.

President Mnangagwa’s visit underscores Zimbabwe’s strengthening ties with Russia, particularly in health, mining, and agricultural co-operation. The two nations have recently deepened economic partnerships, with Russian firms investing in several sectors.

Among the major investors is the world’s largest diamond mining company, Alrosa, which is in a joint venture with the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company to mine the precious stones.

Most recently, Russia provided Zimbabwe with air ambulances that are offering emergency medical services and saving lives.

It is anticipated that President Mnangagwa’s presence at the Victoria Day celebrations will pave the way for further strengthening of relations between Zimbabwe and Russia.